Barbed-wire machine



Pa tented Aug. 2.189s.

'No. 608,47l.

B. m. MILLER. BARBED WIRE MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23. 1897.)

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modei.)

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No. 608,47l. Patented Aug. 2, I898. B. M. MILLER.

BARBED WIRE MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 608,47l. Patented Aug. 2, I898. B. M. MILLER.

BABBED WIRE MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1897.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Patented Aug. 2, I898.

6 Sheets$heet 4.

(No Model.)

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BARBED WIRE MACHINE. (Application filed M123, 1 s97.

6 Sheets$heet 5.

(No Model.)

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no. 608,47l, Patent d Aug. 2, "398.

B. m. MILLER. BARBED WIRE MACHINE.

(Applicatiolifiled Dec. 28, 1897.)

(No Model.) v 6 -Sheets-Sheet 6.

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UN TED ST TE-s PATENT rrrcn.

BENJAMIN M. MILLER, OF CRAVVFORDSVILLE, INDIANA.

BARBED-WIRE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Bio-608,471, dated August2, 1898. 1

Application fihgdDecember 23,1897. Serial No. 663,197. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Orawfordsville, in the county of Montgomery and State ofIndiana, have invented a new and useful Barbed-Wire Machine, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for producing barbedwire in which I have so combined and arranged the barb-applyingmechanism as to equalize the strain on the longitudinal strands duringthe operation of applying Wire barbs thereto.

A further objectthat I have in view is to provide an improved machine bywhich the barbs are applied to the longitudinal strands simultaneouslyat alternate intervals and at proper distances apart, thus increasingthe capacity of the machine and enabling the barb applying mechanism tobe run at a slower speed.

A further object that I have in view is to so construct the machine thatthe barbs may be applied to the longitudinal strands at intervals, whichmay be regulated as desired that is to say, the barbs may be attached tothe strands at intervals of either three inches or six inches apart-andsuch adaptation of the working elements of the barb-applying mechanismmay be effected within a few minutes time and withoutinvolving stoppageof the machine to make the necessary changes,

thus overcoming a serious objection to prior barbing-machines whichrequire two or three hours labor to make the necessary changes in theworking parts thereof.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the combination of apair of revoluble strand-carrying shells having their barb-coil-.

ing intermittent motion to said feed mech-{ anisms for the barb-formingWires, and a takeup mechanism for feeding the barbed strands at suitableintervals; and the invention further consists in the novel combinationof elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

To enable others to understand my invention, I. have illustrated thesame in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which Figure 1 is a planview of a wire-barbing machine embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken from the right-hand side ofthe machine shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar side elevation takenfrom the left-hand side of the machine shown by Figs- 1 and 2. Fig. 4 isan end elevation looking at the righthand end ofthe machine illustratedby Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the barb-applying mechanism, theindependent feed mechanisms, and the driving mechanism for saidindependent feed mechanisms, looking at the left-hand end of the workingparts shown by Fig. 1 and illustrating a part of the foundation-frame intransverse section. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the planeindicated by the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 1, look ing in the directionindicated by the arrow.

'Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation on the plane indicated by thedotted line 7 7 of Fig. 1, illustrating the gearing by which thestrandcarrying shells are rotated and the gearing between the upper andlower sets ofrolls forming in part the independent feed mechanisms tosupply separate strands of barbforming wires to the coiling-fingers ofthe the means by which the reciprocating motion v is given to the innermembers of the oppositely-rotating strand-carrying shells. Fig. 11 is adetail fragmentary view of the driving mechanism for impelling the lowershafts of the independent feed mechanisms for the barb-forming wires.Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary view in elevation of the reciprocatingdevices by which reciprocating play is given to one of thelmtterlly-wheels forming a part of the take-up mechanism by which thelongitudinal strands are drawn or fed through the machine.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding and likeparts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

A designates the horizontal framework of the machine, which is supportedby suitable legs or standards a, firmly fastened to the floor. This mainframe A sustains all of the working elements of the machine, and upon itmounted the bed-plate 13, which carries the barb-applying mechanisms.

Arranged longitudinally of the main frame A and beneath the horizontalpart thereof, upon which the bed-plate 13 is supported, is the revolubletwister-frame 1. At one end of this revoluble twister-frame it isprovided with a bearing-annulus 2, loosely journaled on a ringbearing 3,attached to the legs or standards a at one end of the frame A. The otherend of this revoluble twister-frame is supported by a horizontal powershaft 4., which is journaled in a suitable bearing in the legs a at theopposite end of the main frame A, and said power-shaft lprotrudes beyondthe machine-frame to receive the fast and loose pulleys 5 (3, by whichthe machine is driven. The revoluble twister-frame is provided withjournal-bearings 7 to receive the shaft 8 of a reel 8, and to saidreelshaft is secured a beveled gear 9, with which meshes a beveledpinion 10 on a horizontal shaft 11, suitably journaled on thetwisterframe 1, said shaft 11 being geared through the train of gears 12to the power-shaft 1, whereby as the frame 1 is rotated the reel willalso be rotated within said frame for the purpose of winding thereon thebarbed wire as it is produced by the machine.

As is usual in this class of machines, the revoluble twister-frame 1carries a non-rotatable threaded arbor 12), on which is screwed aguide-traveler ll, adapted to direct the barbed wire along the revolvingreel 8 and to insure proper and uniform coiling of said barbed wire onsaid reel.

15 designates the main driving-shaft, which is arranged in a horizontalposition longitudinally of the frame A and above the bedplate I Thisshaft 15 is journaled in suitable bearings provided in the standards 10,which are attached to the bed-plate l3 and to an extension b at one endof said bed-plate, and this main driving-shaft carries means for drivingthe strand-carrying shells, a crankdisk for the independent feedmechanisms, a cam for giving reciprocating motion to the inner membersof the stra1nl-carrying shells, and a cam for actuating a reciprocatingknifecarrying block, all as will hereinafter fully appear.

Erected on the bed-plate 1 in a position transversely across the machineis a fixed upright 17, which at its upper part carries a housing orcasing 18, adapted to contain the revoluble strand-carryin g shells 1.920. These strand-carryin g shells are arranged parallel to each other insubstantially the same horizontal plane, and one shell, 20, is longerthan the other shell, 19, so as to have the working ends of the shortshell terminate at a suitable distance in rear of the corresponding endof the othershell 19. The shell 1 f) has an outer rotary member 19 andan inner rotary and reciprocating member 19. In like manner the longstraml-carrying shell 20 consists of an outer rotary member 20* and aninner rotary and reciprocating member 20". The outer members of the longand short strmnl-carrying shells are journaled in suitable bearingsprovided in the upright 1.7 and housing 18 in a manner to be free torotate axially therein, but said outer members of the strand-carryingshells are limited to rotary motion. The inner members 10" and 20",however, are arranged within the outer rotary members in a manner tohave limited eudwise or reciprocating motion within said outer membersof the shells, as well as to be rotated axially by connectionsbetweenthe outer shells and said inner shells.

The two strainl-earrying shells are designed to be driven in oppositedirections simultaneously by means of gear-pinions 21 22, which aresecured rigidly on the outer members of the shells, said pinions beinghoused within the hood or casing 18. The strand-carrying shells beingarranged parallel to each other, the pinions 21 22 mesh directlytogether to insure opposite rotation simultaneously to thestraml-earrying shells, and with the gearpinion 21. of the shortstraml-carrying shell 19 meshes a large driving-gear 23. Thisdriving-gear is mounted loosely on the main driving-shaft 15 to rotateindependently thereon, and with this driving-gear meshes an intermediateidler-gear 2-1- on a short shaft 25, journaled in suitable hearings onthe bedplate 13. This shaft is in turn driven by a counter-shaft 20,having a pinion 26, which meshes with the pinion 21-, and saidcountershaft 26 is journaled in hearings on the main frame of thebed-plate at the left-hand side of the machine, so as to lie parallel tothe main driving-shaft 15, but at a suitable distance below and to oneside thereof, said counter-shaft being geared directly to thedriving-shaft 15 through the intermeshing gears 27 28, which arefastened rigidly to the counter-shaft 2 and the main driving-shaft 15,respectively. It will thus be seen that I have provided a train of gearsin connection with counter-shafts by which the strand-carrying shellsare rotated positively in opposite directions and that said train ofgears in shells.

cludes two gears 28 23, which are fast and loose, respectively, on themain driving-shaft 15. The inner members 19 and 20 of the revolublestrand-carrying shells are fitted snugly within the outer members 19 and20 of said shells, so as to rotate therewith and to be free to have alimited endwise movement therein, and the rear ends of said innermembers of the strand-shells are projected or extended beyond thecorresponding ends of the outer members of said shells to provide forthe connection therewith of the means by which the reciprocating motionmay be imparted to the inner members of said strandcarrying shells.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have illustrated the projecting or extendedends of the inner strand-carrying shell members as. provided withannular grooves 29, and in these grooved extended ends of the innershell members are fitted the sl1ipper-forks30 30. Said shipperforksloosely embrace the grooved extended ends of the inner members of thestrand-carrying shells to permit the latter to rotate freely within saidforks, and the forks are mounted loosely in the arms of a swinging frame31, arranged in a vertical position alongside of the upright 17, thelower end of said swinging frame being pivotally attached, as at 32, tolugs or ears 32: of the bed-plate B. The shipper-fork 3O is carried by ashaft 33, which is journaled in a bearing formed by one of the arms ofthe swinging frame 31, and on this shaft 33 .is rigidly mounted a loosetappet-wheel 34, which works in a kerf or recess 34, provided in saidframe 31. Said loose tappet-Wheel 34 rides against the face of a cam 35,secured rigidly on the main driving-shaft 15 in a position alongside ofthe large drivinggear 23,, by which motion is imparted to thestrand-carrying shells. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, and S.)

The swinging frame 31 has a stud 35, to which is fitted a coiledpressure-spring 36, seated against a suitable projection on thebed-plate B, said spring tending to normally force the frame 31 towardthe shells 19 20;v

but in the revolution of the cam-wheel 35 its eccentric or cam facerides against the tappet-wheel 34 to positively move the frame 31 andcarry with it the forks 3O 30 to impart the reciprocatory or endwisemovement to the inner members of the strand-carrying strand-carryingshells have integral heads 37 38, in which are formed central openings39, while the outer members 19 and 20 are prov vided with theface-plates 4O 41,respectively,

said face-plates having openings 42, which are in axial alinement withthe openings 39 in the inner members of said shells, whereby thestrand-wires are adapted to pass through said shells 19 20. Said innermembers 19 and 20 of the strand-carrying shells are further providedwith the'coiling-fingers 43 44, which fingers are rigid or, integralwith the, heads of said inner members of the shells and are The innermembers 19 and 20 of the inner members of the strand-shells are movedendwise toward the face-plates on the outer members of said shells, thecoiling-fingers 43 44 are projected a suitable distance beyond theface-plates 4O 41 for the coiling-fingers to properly engage with thelengths of wire whichare to be twisted around the longitudinal strandsto form the barbs thereon; but when said inner members of the shells areretracted by the action of the cam-wheel 35 the barb-coiling fingers 4344 are drawn within the face-plates, so as to be out of the way of thelongitudinal strands or the barb-forming wires supplied by the feedmechanisms, thus arranging the barb-applying mechanism to avoidinterference with the proper feed of the longitudinal strands throughthe machine.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 8 it will be seen that the longitudinalstrands are fed through the machine and the strand-carrying shells 19 20in planes parallel to each other, each wire being separate and distinctfrom the other or companion wire during its progress through the majorportion of the machine and through the strand-carrying shells 19 20;

but after the barbs have been applied to said longitudinal strands theyare caused to approach each other and to travel in close relation to ifnot in actual contact with one another around the butterfly-wheels,which direct the barbed wires to the revoluble twister-frame 1, theaction of which twisterframe is to insure the intertwining of thehithertoindependent strands previous to the coiling of the twistedstrands upon the reel 8.

The wires forming the longitudinal strands are supplied from suitablereels, (not shown,) and they are led or directed by and betweenidler-rolls 46, situated at one end of the machine-frame and carried bysuitable arms 47 attached to the horizontal rails of the main frame A.The butterfly-wheels just mentioned constitute the take-up mechanismbetween the strand-carrying shells and the revoluble twister-frame,'andsuch take-up mechanism will be hereinafter more fully described.

I will now proceed to describe the barbedwire-feedin g mechanisms bywhich independ ent wires are fed from opposite sides of the machine inEproper positions to the working ends of the long and shortstrand-carrying shells 19 2O forthe engagement of the barbcoilingfingers with the short lengths of wire adapted to be cut from thebarb-forming ICO IIC

wires and to be coiled by said fingers around the longitudinal strandsto produce thereon the barbs at the proper intervals.

The barbed-wire-feed mechanism D for the short shell 19 is arranged onthe left-hand side of the machine, while the corresponding feedmechanism C for the long strandcarrying shell 20 is situated on theopposite or right-hand side of the machine, as shown by Fig. 1. Saidwire-feed mechanisms are independent of each other, but they aredesigned to be driven by a common driving mechanism, which propels thefeed-rollers of the two feeding mechanisms at a uniform peripheral speedin order to feed equal lengths of wire to the cutter mechanisms and tothe working ends of the coiling-fingers of the straml-carrying shells.Each feed mechanism is constructed in substantially the same way, and adescription of one will apply equally as well to the other. Each feedmechanism consists of a lower shaft 50, journaled in suitable fixedbearings on the bedplate B, a pivoted frame 51, provided with a housing51, an upper shaft 52, journaled in said housing and carried by theswinging frame, gear-wheels 53, attached to the shafts 5052 tocommunicate the motion of the lower shaft 50 to the upper shaft 52, androllers 54 55, fastened rigidly to the shafts 50 52 and arranged in thesame vertical plane in order to grip the wire as it passes through thefeed mechanism. The feed-roller on the upper shaft 52 is normallypressed downward into contact with the roller 54: on the lower shaft 50by means of a spring-arm 56, attached to the pivoted frame 51, a stem57, connected to said spring-arm 5G, and to an eccentric-collar 57, acoil-spring 5S, fitted upon said stem 57, and a shaft 59, journaled inbearings on the bed-plate and provided with an eccentric 60 and with anoperating-handle 60, said eccentric-collar 57 fitting around theeccentric 60. By moving the lever (30 in one direction the shaft 50 maybe rocked to ease up the tension of the spring 58 of the pivoted frame51, which carries the upper feed-roller shaft; but by depressing saidlever the tension of the spring on the swinging frame may be varied asdesired to impartthe necessary frictional grip between the feed-rollers5-1 to properly engage with the wire from which the barb is formed.

The feed-roll shaft 50 of the feed mechanism D on one side of themachine is provided with a ratchet 61, while the lower feed-roll shaft50 of the other feed mechanism C on the opposite side of the machine isprovided with a similar ratchet 62. On said feed-roll shafts 50 of theindependent feed mechanisms are loosely hung the swinging arms (53,which lie adjacent to the ratchets 61 62 and extend in oppositedirections from the shafts 50 of said independent feed mechanisms. The

swinging arm 63, which projects above the shaft 50 of the feed mechanismD, carries a pawl 65, arranged to engage by gravity with the ratchet 01,while the other arm 63, which lies below the shaft 50 of the feedmechanism 0, has a spring-controlled pawl (54, that is normally pressedinto engagement with the ratchet 62 of said feed mechanism. Vith the arm(33 of the feed mechanism 0 is pivotally connected a driving-link 66,and the other end of said driving-link is pivoted on a wrist-pin 67,carried by a crank-disk 68, which is secured on the main driving-shaft15. To the driving-link 06 at a point intermediate of its length ispivoted, as at 69, a driven link 69, the other end of which is attached,as at 69", to the arm 63 of the feed mechanism D. As the crank-disk 68rotates with the shaft the links 69 are reciprocated to swing the armsDuring one stroke of the links the pawls on the arms 63 engage with theratchets 0f the shafts 50 of the feed mechanisms in a manner to rotatethe feedrollers 5t 55, but during the other portion of the rotation ofsaid crank-disk 68 the links 66 69 operate the arms 03 in a reversedirection to allow the pawls to slip idly over the ratchets 61 62,whereby the feed mechanisms remain at rest during the intervals when thecoiling-fingers operate to attach the barbs to the longitudinal strands.

In connection with the intermittcntly-actuated feed mechanisms I employthe guides 7 O 71, which are suitably attached to the bedplate B inpositions transversely across the machine and out of line with eachother, each guide consistin gof a channel or trouglrshaped metal piece.The guide 70 leads from the feed-rollers to the feed mechanism C to apoint adjacent to the working end of the short strand-carrying shell1!),while the other guide 71 is situated between the feed-rollers of thefeed mechanism D and the working end of the long strand-carrying shell20, whereby said guides are properly disposed with relation to thestrand-carrying shells to supply the barb-forming wires to saidstrand-carrying shells at the proper intervals for application to thelongitudinal strands at alternate points thereto.

I will now proceed to describe the cutter mechanism, which is actuatedfrom the main drivingshaft 15 at suitable intervals and which isconstructed to sever short lengths of wire from the two strands fed tothe working ends of the shells 19 20 by the operation of the independentfeed mechanisms. This cutter mechanism is situated adjacent to theworking ends of the long and short strandcarrying shells and between thefeed mechanisms for the barb-formin g wires, substantially as shown byFig. 1. Said cutter mechanism comprises in part a swinging carrier-block73, which is shaped irregularly to present surfaces adjacent to theworking ends of the long and short straml-carrying shells 1f) 20, andsaid swinging carrier-block is hung or pivoted at a point intermediateof its length, as at 74:, on a standard 74E of the bed-plate B. One endof this swinging carrier-block is IOC constructed to form a fork 75,which loosely embraces a cam or eccentric 76, secured on the maindriving-shaft 15, whereby the carrier-blockis positivelyand-automatically reciprocated-by motion derived from the shaft 15.1 Onthis carrier-block are secured movable knives 77, which operate inconnection with the stationary knives 78, bolted or otherwise fastenedto upright posts 78 rigid with the bed-plate B. The knives 77 and "78are arranged .in pairs contiguous to'the working ends of the long andshort strand-carrying shells, and said knives are arranged orconstructed to sever the short lengths of wire from thebarb-formingwires supplied by, the feed mechanisms with a shear cut forthe purpose of producing the proper points on the barbswhich are appliedto the longitudinal strands. I 7

It will be seen that the carrier-block is ac tuated automatically byconnections with the main driving-shaft 15, which are so timed andarranged that the movable knives on said carrier-block will be broughtinto operative relation to the fixed knives 7 8 to cut or sever thewires supplied by the feed mechanisms subsequent to the operation oftwistingthe barbs around the longitudinal strands by the action of thecoiling-fingers in the strandcarrying shells, and it will also beobserved that the independent sets of knives are ar-. ranged in suchrelation to the guides 71 and the working ends of I the long and shortstrand-carrying shells that the wires supplied by the feed mechanismswill be cut 0% at proper distances suflicient to form the barbs.

I will now proceed to describe the take-up mechanism by which thelongitudinal strands are fed intermittently through the machine.

The main driving-shaft 15 projects at one end through its bearing in theextreme pillowblock 16 to receive a beveled gear-pinion 80, with'whichmeshes a beveled gear 81, secured rigidly on a shaft 82, which isjournaled in suitable bearings provided in the standard 83, mounted onthe extreme right-hand end of the frame A. At one end this shaft 82 isprovided with a crank-disk 84, having a wristpin or crank 85, adapted toplay in the vertical slot 86 of an arm 86, the upper end of .which ispivotally attached, as at 86 on a part of the machine-framework, wherebythe vertically-slotted arm 86 is adapted to be reciprocated by thecrank-pin on the shaft 82, geared directly to the main driving-shaft 15.This slotted arm 86 has a pendent lug 86, through which passes aguide-stem 87, suitably supported in a lug 87 on the machine- ,frame,and said guide-stem carries a coiled pressure-spring 88, which is heldinplace by the guide-stem,one end ofsaid pressure-sprin g being seatedagainst the lug 87 and its other end against the pendent arm 86 of thevibrating slotted arm 86. Said slotted arm 86 is further provided with ajournal pin or stud 88, on which is loosely mounted an idlerbutterfly-wheel 89, which is'free to rotate on the stud 88 of saidvibrating arm, and which is carried in a positive. manner back and forthwith the vibrating arm 86 as the latter is moved by the crank-disk 84,whereby the butterfly-wheel 89 is adapted to strain orpull 011 ,thelongitudinal strands at suitable intervals after the barbs have beenapplied to said strands. v

90 designates a continuously-rotated butterfly-wheel which is arrangedbelow the idler butterfly-wheel 89 and in a line slightly in advance ofsaid wheel 89. This continuously rotated wheel 90 is rigidly secured toone end 7 of a shaft 91, j ournaled in bearings of a hanger 91, rigidwith the machine-frame. ,S aid shaft is provided at its opposite endwith a gear 92, i which meshes with a gear-pinion 93, journaled on astub-shaft 93, supported in a pendent arm 93. sprocket-pinion 94, aroundwhich passes a sprocket-chain94 that extends up to and is driven by asprocket-pinion 94c on the shaft stantially the same vertical plane asthe vibrating wheel 89.

V This idler-wheel 95 is journaled on a stud 95 rigid with an upright96, pivoted to the floor, as shown by Figs. 2 and i, and to the upperendof this standard 96 is attached a guide-stem 97, suitably and Rigid withthis gear-pinion 93 is a loosely connected to the main frame A and"sustaining a coiled pressure-spring 98, which is seated against said.pivoted standard 96 for the purpose of pressing the latter and theidlerwheel 95 away from the continuously-rotated Wheel 90.

My takeupmechanismembodies two idler wheels 89 95, situated inhorizontal planes on opposite sides of a continuously-rotatedbutterfly-wheel 90, and one idler-wheel is normally pressed away fromthe wheel 90, while-the other idler-Wheel is reciprocated for thepurpose of straining the strand-wire at suitable intervals to enable thecontinuously-rotated wheel to .pull on the strandwire and-effect theproper feed thereof through the strand-carrying shells 1920 of themachine. v Y

When the reciprocating idler-wheel 89 of the take-upmechanismis moved ina direction toward the strand-carrying shells,.acertain amount of slackis permitted in the longitudinal strands, which slack is taken up by theaction of the continuously-rotated wheel in the interval when the shells19 2O andthe barb-coiling fingers are actuated to twist the barbs aroundthe longitudinal strands but as the arm 86 moves the idler-wheel 89 awayfrom the strand-carryin g shells the longitudinal strands'are strainedand the rotation of the wheel 90 draws on the strands to effect theproper feed or movement of the latter through the shells 19 20 asuitable distance to present new surface on the longitudinal strands forthe application of the barbs thereto.

The main driving-shalt 15 is geared to the horizontal twister-frame l bythe gearing illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4-. This gearing comprises asprocket-wheel 90, which is fast with the annulus 2 at one end of thetwister-frame 1. On the main frame A is a fixed stub-axle 100, thatcarries a compound sprocket-wheel 101,0ne part of which sprocket wheelis in alinement with the sprocket-wheel 90, to be connected therewith bya sprocketchain 102. The other part of the compound sprocket-wheel 101is in vertical alinement with the sprocket-wheel 103, fastened rigidlyto the main driving-shaft 15,and the sprocketchain 101- passes aroundsaid member of the compound sprocket 101. and the sprocket 103 tooperatively conneet,through the compound sprocket 101, the shaft 15 withthe rcvoluble twistealrame 1.

As is usual in this class of machines, the wires from which the barbsare to be formed are guided to the feed mechanisms by idlerguide-rollers l0l, carried by arms 105, suitably attached to themaehine-framework.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with thedrawings.

It is evident that slight changes in the form and proportion of partsand in the details of construction maybe made without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterationsas properly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire toseeu re by Letters Patent, is

1. In a barbed wire machine, the oppositely rotating strand carryingshells arranged with their working ends out of alinement one with theother, and each having an inner reciprocating member carrying abarbcoiling linger slidably fitted to the outer shell member, incombination with a driving-shaft from which the two strand-carryingshells are driven, means operatively connected with the inner members ofsaid strand-carryin g shells l'or imparting reciprocating play thereto,in dependent feed mechanisms for the respective strand-carrying shells,and cutter devices in operative relation to the disalined working endsof said strand-carrying shells, substantially as described.

2. In a l.)arbedwirc machine, the combination of a barb-coilingmechanism having coiling-fingers arranged in different vertical planesand situated one in advance of the other to be out of alinementtransversely across the machine, mechanism for rotating saidcoiling-fingers simultaneously, intermittent feed mechanisms arranged onopposite sides of the barb-coiling mechanism and having their respectivepairs of feed-rollers arranged substantially in alinement with thedisalined coiling-fingers of the ceiling mechanism, and a movable cuttermechanism embracing independent set-s of knives arranged between thefeed mechanisms and adjacent to the working ends of the ceilingmechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a barbed-wire machine, a ceiling mechanism comprising long andshort strandcarrying shells having their working ends terminating indifferent vertical and transverse planes, each shell consisting of anouter member limited to rotation on its axis and an inner member capableof rotary and reciprocating play within said outer member, incombination with means for intermittently imparting reciprocating playto the inner members of said strand-carrying shells, independent feedmechanisms to deliver barb -[orming wires to the working ends of saiddisalined shells, and a cutter mechanism, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

4. In a barbed-wire machine, a barb-coiling mechanism comprising longand short shells having their Working ends terminating in differentplanes transversely across the machine, and each shell consisting of anouter member and an inner member arranged to reciprocate wit-11in saidouter member and to rotate therewith, in combination with mechanism forimparting rotary motion simultaneously to both strand-carrying shells,mechanism for reciprocating the inner members of said strandcarryingshells, independent feed mechanisms to deliverbarb-forming wires to theworking ends of the disalined strand-carrying shells, and a cuttermechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a barbed-wire machine, a barb-coiling mechanism comprising longand short strandcarrying shells, each shell consisting of an outermemberprovided with a gcanpinion, an inner 1n ember carrying acoiling'finger which passes through a face-plate on the outer member andhas its rear end projected beyond said outer member, a pivotedspring-controlled frame adjacent to the projecting ends of the innermembers of said shells and shipperforks carried by said pivoted frame,in combination with a cam to vibrate the pivoted frame, means i. o rrotatin g the strand-carryin g shells in opposite directionssimultaneously, independent feed mechanisms, and a cutter mechanism,substantially as and for the purposes described.

(3. In a barbedwire machine, a duplex barbcoiling mechanism comprisinglong and short outer shells having their working ends arranged out ofalinement one with the other, and each provided with an innerreciprocating member which carries a barb-coiling finger that isslidably fitted in the working end of the outer shell to remain normallyin en gagcm ent therewith, means operatively connected with the innermembers of the two shells for givin g reciprocating play simultaneouslythereto Within the outer shells to retract and extend the barb-coilingfingers, and gearing directly connecting the outer shells to rotate thelat-- ter in opposite directions simultaneously, in combination withindependent feed devices 'to direct the barb-forming wires to thedisalined ends of the outer shells, and cutter devices in operativerelation to said disalined ends of the outer-shells, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a barbed-wire machine, the combination with a duplex coilingmechanism and a cutter mechanism adjacent to the working ends of saidcoiling mechanism, of independent feed mechanisms situated on oppositesides of the coiling mechanism and having the feed-rollers arranged todeliver to the disalined working ends of the coiling mechanism, and adriving device commonto both feed mechanisms to impart uniformperipheral speed to the feed-rollers thereof,substantially as and forthe purposes described.

8. In a barbed-wire machine, the combination with a barb-coilingmechanism and a cutter mechanism, of independent feed mechanismssituated on'opposite sides of the coiling mechanism and having theirfeed-roll shafts provided with ratchets,a driving-shaft, andpawl-carrying links or arms actuated by said driving-shaft and arrangedin relation to the feed-roll shafts for the pawls thereon to engage withthe-ratchets, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In abarbed-wire machine, the combination with a coiling mechanism,and a cutter mechanism, of a driving-shaft provided with a crank-disk,independent feed mechanisms situated on opposite sides of the coilingmechanisms and each having one of its feedroll shafts provided with aratchet, swinging arms adjacent to the ratchets of said feed mechanismsand provided with pawls which engage with said ratchets, a driven linkattached to one swinging arm and to the crankdisk, and a driven linkpivoted to the other swinging arm and to the driven link at apointintermediate of its length, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

10. In a barbed-wire machine, the combination of a coiling mechanismhaving the working ends of its rotary members arranged out of alinementwith each other, and independent feed mechanisms by which barb-formingwires are supplied to said disalined Working ends of the coilingmechanism, of a drivingshaft having a knife-actuating cam 76, anirregularly-shaped knife-carrier pivotally mounted to present its knivesadjacent to the disalined ends of the coiling mechanism and having afork which embraces said cam 76 to be actuated thereby, movable knivesmounted on said reciprocating knife-block, and stationary knives inoperative relation to the working ends of the coiling mechanism and themovable knives, substantially as de: scribed.

11. In a barbed-wire machine, a coiling mechanism comprising long andshort strandcarrying shells having their working ends arranged one inrear of the other and each shell I provided with an inner member whichis arranged to reciprocate within the outer rotary member thereof, incombination with mechanism for imparting simultaneous and reciprocatingmotion to the inner members of said strand-carrying shells, areciprocating knifecarrier arranged adjacent to the disalined workingends of the strand-carrying shells and providedwith movable knives,fixed 1 Witnesses:

W. O. ARMSTRONG, GEO. W. L.'BROWVN.

